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Saturday, 22 February 2014

Work in Progress: Granny Stripe Crochet Blanket

You might know they I have just started to teach myself crochet. I had my heart set on making a really cool crochet basket with this HUGE amount of t-shirt yarn (nearly did a bad yet apt typo then! ;) ) that I have had lying around (see here) but after literally a million tries, with several different patterns, I've put it on the back burner for now!A blog I have started following for a while now, Maybe Matilda, posted a tutorial for this gorgeous baby blanket. And not only that, this tutorial has PHOTOS! The thing I can't quite get my head around yet is reading crochet patterns, so anything with photos or video, I am really into! However, even with this super easy tutorial, I am still foiled by crochet! I'm onto my third attempt now, having failed spectacularly with the first go:

I bought some smaller hooks for this attempt, but still failed...!

Although you can't really see, the edges were really going uneven and I couldn't continue with it being so crazy! This is where I'm currently at:

And already I'm a bit off track! I have no idea how one end it straight and the other seems to become uneven! (Actually I *think* it's because I made one mistake at the end of a row, I didn't think it would be a big deal, but turns out it is!)

Hopefully as I go on I'll get the hang of it and end up with a nice even edge! I can't bear the thought of unpicking it a THIRD time when I like this version the best so far! Any tips??

10 comments:

Oh can be so disheartnening having to undo! Other than counting the stiches each time theres no way i think! That final extra stitch at the end is sometimes tricky to spot and then do! Thanks for linking up too, great to have a new friendly face playing along!

Oh bless you! It's really hard to know with crochet when you've got the the end of the row isn't it. I still count pretty much every row when I'm making something with straight sides. If you are a newbie to crochet I would really recommend trying something where you go round and round instead, like granny squares, as it's so much harder to go wrong. Or make your blanket from smaller squares joined together at the end. That way you've got less to count at the end of each row. Or you could just even it all out with a border at the end and then no one will be any the wiser (except that you've put it on the internet of course!)Good luck, I'm sure it will be lovely when finished.

Thanks for your comments! I did try a circular thing and also granny squares, but got a bit confused- I think from trying to do too many different things! Now I've started this I'd really like to see if I can finish with it looking semi-ok. Luckily the pattern I'm following does have a border, so I'm hoping once that goes on, the uneven edges will look ok. Look out for an update once I've finished!

I love it! I like to crochet more than knit, but so far I've only made washcloths. Lots and lots of washcloths. Someday I will learn some different stiches...but for now I enjoy the mindless, simple stitch. Stopping by from the Sharefest!

I've found this blanket really easy (mistakes aside). I'm a total novice, I tried washcloths but wanted to make something a bit more purposeful. Sometimes I think it depends on the mood you're in, as to what you feel like making. The blog which this pattern is from has some really great photo tutorials on different stitches which I found really helpful http://www.maybematilda.com/2011/09/cal-learn-half-double-crochet-and.html#.Uwpp_3llrRoyou might want to take a look! Thanks for stopping by! :-)

The edges are always harder than they should be. Making sure you chain up the 3 every row at the end and every second row needs the 3 dc's. Practice makes perfect and starting over is annoying but worth it for a nice finished product.

Thanks for the tip! I definitely think I'll have another go, and be a bit more fastidious about counting and checking each row. The finished product isn't too bad for a first attempt! And my son loves it!

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Hello and Welcome! I'm Marie, and I'm writing about things that I've been making, baking and creating. I'm a Kiwi girl living in Wellington, New Zealand. I hope my little space inspires you to start making...things!